All Work and No Play for Children

NCLB fueled trend toward shorter play times- or even eliminated recess at some test-obsessed schools- may lead to unruly classrooms and more obese children, according to research from New York’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Researchers looked at more than 10,000 children, ages 8-9 and found that those who had at least a 15-minute break behaved better than those who did not.

Many schools have responded t the demands of NCLB, which focuses on reading and math scores to the exclusion of much else, by increasing “seat time.” But researchers suggested that Americans look to Asia for a more effective practice. Most elementary schools there provide a 10-minute break after every 40-50 minutes of instructions.